In this issue: Reports Address Crypto Ownership, Stablecoins and Dapp Adoption By Amos Kim Recent reports provide new data on various areas of the digital asset market. In one report, a survey published by a cryptocurrency trading platform found “a significant rise in crypto ownership among young women.” Among other things, the survey found that … Continue Reading
On January 4, 2023, the New York State Department of Financial Services (“DFS”) announced that Coinbase, Inc., a major U.S. cryptocurrency exchange, will pay a $50 million penalty and invest an additional $50 million in its compliance function over the next two years to remediate significant violations of the New York Banking Law and the … Continue Reading
In this issue:• Paper Explores Benefits of DeFi for FX; Australian Bank Launches Stablecoin• World Economic Forum Publishes DAO Toolkit; ETH Staking Continues to Grow• New BIS Bulletin and Thailand SEC Regulations Address Digital Asset Risks• SEC Charges U.S. Crypto Lender and Exchange with Securities Law Violations• FinCEN and DOJ Bring Parallel Actions Against Foreign-Based … Continue Reading
In this issue:• New Data Published on 2022 Crypto Exchange Trading Volume, NFT Royalties• Blockchain Development Firm Integrates Avalanche with Major Cloud Provider• Governments of El Salvador and Nigeria Take Steps Toward Crypto Adoption• DOJ Enforcement: NFT Rug Pull, Insider Trading, Crypto Fraud and Theft• CFTC Action Alleges Digital Asset Market Manipulation on DeFi Exchange• … Continue Reading
In this issue:• Crypto Apps Launch New Features, Custody Firm Achieves CCSS Certificate• NFTs Permitted for Political Fund Raising; Analysis Details NFT Wash Trading• US and International Regulators Address Crypto Risk Factors for Banks• Treasury Dept. and IRS Issue Transitional Digital Assets Guidance for Brokers• DOJ and SEC Actions Target Crypto Fraud and Unregistered Securities … Continue Reading
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Division of Corporation Finance (CorpFin) recently issued guidance (Guidance), including a “Dear Issuer” Sample Letter (Sample Letter) to assist companies in meeting their statutory disclosure obligations in light of the recent crypto downturn. Read the full Alert.… Continue Reading
In this issue: New Crypto Payment Products Launch, Reports Publish Crypto Market Data By Robert A. Musiala Jr. A recent press release announced that MetaMask, the popular Ethereum (ETH) Network crypto wallet provider, will integrate its self-custodial wallets with a major U.S. fintech firm. According to the press release, the integration will allow U.S. MetaMask … Continue Reading
In this issue: • New Research and Surveys Address CBDCs, Institutional Crypto Investment• NFTs: Government Agencies Seek Comments on NFT IP; New Marketplaces Open• Crypto DEX and Wallet Providers Reveal User Data Collection Practices• SEC Commissioner Addresses Digital Assets and Investor Protection Concerns• SEC Institutes Proceedings Against DAO; FINRA Examines Crypto Advertising• New York State … Continue Reading
In this issue: New Crypto Market Data Published, Blockchain Settlement Pilot Announced CFPB Publishes Report on Crypto Scams; Study Analyzes Scams on Uniswap Multiple Cryptocurrency Exchanges Intend to Publish ‘Proof of Reserves’ Users Move Crypto Off of Exchanges, Tether Freezes $47M in USDT New Crypto Market Data Published, Blockchain Settlement Pilot Announced By Amos Kim … Continue Reading
In 2016, crypto startup LBRY launched the LBRY network and the LBRY protocol, described by LBRY as a decentralized content sharing and publishing protocol that supports the creation of community-run digital marketplaces. The same year, LBRY offered and sold native LBC tokens to the public for the purported purpose of allowing LBRY users to compensate … Continue Reading
In this issue: • New Crypto Products Launch; Singapore Completes DeFi Pilot with Major Banks• Report Provides New Data on NFT Royalties and Explores Related Issues• Ethereum Efficiency Data Published; Blockchain Infrastructure Projects Launch• IRS Updates Digital Asset Guidance, CFTC Commissioner Warns of Crypto Risk• Crypto Exchange Hacked for $28M; Reports Address Ransomware, Crypto Scams … Continue Reading
In this issue: • Crypto Products Launch in Debit Cards, Payment Gateways, Trading Platforms• EU Blockchain Observatory Publishes Report on Blockchain for Supply Chains• US Banking Official Addresses Approach to Regulating Crypto-Assets• BIS Publishes Report on Progress of Multi-CBDC Platform Pilot• Securities Regulators Bring Action Against NFTs Tied to Metaverse Gambling• DOJ Charges Detail Bitcoin … Continue Reading
On October 11, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced a $29 million civil monetary penalty against Bittrex, a major U.S. cryptocurrency exchange, as part of a global settlement with FinCEN and OFAC related to Bittrex’s alleged historic violations of the Bank … Continue Reading
In this issue: • Crypto Developments Emerge in Payments, Trading, Staking and Accounting• DOJ Targets Crypto Money Laundering and Fraud; Japan Issues Crypto Warning Crypto Developments Emerge in Payments, Trading, Staking and Accounting By Lauren Bass This week, a global financial services and payment technology firm announced that it has partnered with a major U.S. … Continue Reading
As part of a coordinated effort with the U.S. Secretary of State, Attorney General, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Homeland Security, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Director of National Intelligence, and heads of other relevant agencies, Treasury developed the Action Plan to detail the evolving threats and risks facing the digital asset … Continue Reading
In this issue:• New Crypto Products Launch in Custody, Cloud Collaborations and Stablecoins• FSB Proposes International Crypto Regulation Framework, Solicits Comments• OECD Publishes Crypto Tax Framework; Acting Comptroller Addresses Crypto• Major US Crypto Exchange Fined Over $24M for FinCEN and OFAC Violations• DOJ Targets Crypto Money Laundering; SEC Reportedly Investigating Yuga Labs• October Sees Most … Continue Reading
The Report responds to Section 4(b) of the EO and evaluates the U.S. system of money and payments, developments in stablecoins and instant payment systems, and a potential CBDC, using the following policy objectives as a guide: (1) provide benefits and mitigate risks for consumers, investors, and businesses; (2) promote economic growth and financial stability … Continue Reading
In this issue: • Crypto Products Launch, Reports Detail CBDC Pilots and Bank Crypto Exposure• DAO Governing DAI Stablecoin Invests in US Treasuries and Corporate Bonds• Digital Collectibles + Physical Consumables: Brands Embrace Hybrid NFT Model• Treasury Releases Report on Digital Asset Financial Stability Risks/Regulation• SEC Brings Enforcement Actions Against Crypto Promoters and Fraudsters Crypto … Continue Reading
In this issue: Exchange Reaches Agreement to Sell Assets; New Crypto Products Launch Reports Provide New Data on Cryptocurrency Adoption and Exchange Activity Auction House Launches NFT Market; Startup Launches NFT Cloud Database US Treasury Further Interprets Reports Related to EO on Digital Assets CFTC Enforcement Action Targets DAO; SEC Targets Crypto Market Making IRS … Continue Reading
On Sept. 16, 2022, the White House released a Fact Sheet providing key findings and action items arising from the nine reports addressing digital assets that have been submitted to the president to date consistent with the EO. The Fact Sheet provides a list of various directives and initiatives that the Administration plans to take … Continue Reading
In this issue: • Non-Fungible Marketing: Brands Continue to Launch NFTs• OFAC Adds Crypto Public Keys to SDN List Related to Russian Group• US Department of the Treasury Publishes Digital Asset Reports and RFC• Republican Senator Criticizes SEC Approach to Crypto Markets• DOJ and SEC Target Crypto Fraud and Unregistered ‘Crypto Asset Securities’• Cryptocurrency Market … Continue Reading
In this issue: • Ethereum Network Completes Transition to Proof of Stake Consensus• Crypto Exchange, Bitcoin Futures ETF Launch; Crypto Adoption Data Published• Major Coffee and Scotch Brands Launch NFT Initiatives• OFAC Adds Crypto Public Keys to SDN List, Addresses Tornado Cash Sanctions• Major U.S. Exchange Backs Lawsuit Challenging OFAC Tornado Cash Sanctions• Office of … Continue Reading
In prepared remarks delivered at the Practising Law Institute’s “SEC Speaks” program on Sept. 8, Chair Gensler emphasized and reiterated his long-standing position that the vast majority of cryptocurrency tokens are securities, and he noted that “only a small number of tokens, even though they may represent a significant portion of the crypto market’s aggregate … Continue Reading